A 12 months in the past, the Google Podcasts app was hotter than Georgia asphalt. It was downloaded greater than 500 million occasions – or half a billion,
– and at present, it is gone. The search engine large collected the Podcasts app’s scalp and granted it an honorary place within the Google Graveyard – a website for all discontinued Google initiatives.
for his or her listening periods.
At the least, there is a migration course of that may facilitate it for many who wish to export their podcast subscriptions to YouTube Music.
However what if I do not wish to migrate to YouTube Music now that the Google Podcasts app has been shut down? What if I’ve reached the top of my rope with Google and their recurring massacre-like habits?
Let’s discover some options past Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts (RIP)!
What makes a superb podcast app?
Earlier than we proceed with our Google-alternatives explorations, it is necessary to focus on what makes a devoted podcast app good.
Normally, it is all the way down to the next and also you should not accept much less:
- Automation: Podcast apps ought to can help you subscribe to reveals, robotically updating your feed with new episodes. Sure, I would like automation, I do not wish to search manually for brand new content material from the reveals I am subscribed to.
- Downloads: Customers ought to have management over obtain settings, together with guide downloads or limiting new episode downloads per present, and setting most storage utilization. It is good to have a brand new episode robotically downloaded, however issues can get uncontrolled should you’re subscribed to too many reveals.
- Playlists: The power to create and kind playlists for organizing favourite reveals, akin to lists for morning listening, weekend reveals, or lengthy drives, shouldn’t be underestimated.
- Sound: Most apps embrace an audio increase characteristic to boost human voices in podcasts. Whereas it is a redundant characteristic for many who use headphones with nice ANC (Lively Noise Cancellation), a quantity booster comes useful. When you’re caught with a pair of not-so-great earbuds, you are in downtown Karachi, Pakistan (stated to be primary within the World’s Noisiest Cities record) and also you wish to hear what your favourite creator has to say, a quantity booster is a should.
- Trimmer: Many apps provide a useless air trimmer to robotically take away lengthy pauses in episodes.
- Pace: “Somepodcasterstalkreallyfast“. Others… properly, they, uh… others, being human beings, are susceptible to, uh… properly, others, they’ve a distinct tempo and… uhm, it is… it is simply how they discuss, they usually discuss… gradual. That is why versatile playback velocity choices are a should.
Pocket Casts (iOS, Android)
The Pocket Casts app could be very well-liked. “Pocket Casts is the world’s strongest podcast platform, an app by listeners, for listeners” – that is what the builders say for his or her very personal creation. Whereas we’re not right here handy out crowns, it is secure to say that this app is nice.
The general expertise is a mix of simplicity and strong options, and there is a particular Additional Darkish theme for OLED show lovers. Plus, it helps platforms akin to CarPlay, AirPlay, Chromecast, Sonos, and extra, permitting you to get your each day dose of podcasts in numerous methods, areas, and settings.
Its highly effective playback options embrace an “Up Subsequent” queue that syncs throughout gadgets, silence trimming to avoid wasting listening time, variable velocity management, quantity increase for clearer voice audio, streaming choices, and help for chapters with embedded paintings. There’s additionally a technique to skip episode intros!
Customers can anticipate cloud-syncing that ensures your subscriptions, playback queue, listening historical past, and up-to-date filters. The app automates episode downloads for offline listening, presents customized episode filters, manages storage effectively, and notifies you of recent episodes.
Castro (iOS)
Castro permits listeners to curate their podcast expertise by deciding on solely the episodes they want to hear, thus eliminating the litter of undesirable content material. The app permits for the simple group of episodes into a customized queue for hours of seamless listening.
That is complemented by options like CarPlay compatibility for in-drive listening, chapter help for straightforward navigation, and silence trimming to expedite listening periods.
This app’s queue system permits for drag-and-drop group of podcasts. The app presents a darkish mode and since we’re on the subject of “darkish”, there is a devoted sleep timer. It means that you can pause playback after a set interval to be able to go to sleep whereas listening with out by chance enjoying by the complete episode whilst you sleep.
There’s Castro Plus, an non-obligatory subscription, which unlocks superior capabilities akin to Trim Silence to hurry by episodes sooner, Improve Voices for clearer audio in noisy environments, and Sideloading for direct audio file imports.
Overcast (iOS)
Overcast presents a mix of sophistication and ease. There’s the Sensible Pace characteristic, which effectively shortens listening time with out altering the pure sound of the audio, and Voice Increase, guaranteeing constant quantity ranges throughout all podcasts with its broadcast-quality remastering engine.
After all, the app permits obtain for offline playback, alongside options for locating new podcasts with customized suggestions.
Overcast’s integration with the Apple Watch allows standalone playback and mobile streaming, and there is the compulsory CarPlay help. Neat!
Privateness is a cornerstone of Overcast, which operates with out reliance on third-party analytics, advert providers, or monitoring codes, guaranteeing person knowledge stays confidential. The app sustains itself by podcast-promoting advertisements, with an possibility for customers to buy Overcast Premium, eliminating advertisements for a cleaner listening expertise.
Podcast Addict (Android)
Yup, the podcast behavior can develop into an dependancy. Enter the Android-exclusive Podcast Addict app. With a 4.6/5 score (from 575K evaluations) and over 10 million downloads, this one is solely beloved by people who rock a Pixel, a Galaxy, or another Android-based cellphone on the market.There is a cause for that – Podcast Addict presents an unlimited library of free content material, together with tens of millions of podcasts, stay radio reveals, audiobooks, YouTube channels and RSS feeds, coupled with the comfort of cloud backup by way of Google Drive.
You will not remorse having customizable audio settings like:
- Playback velocity adjustment
- Silence skipping
- Quantity boosting
- Mono audio settings
- Downloads for offline listening
It helps direct rankings and evaluations, integrates seamlessly with Android Auto for in-car listening, and presents Chromecast help for casting to exterior gadgets. Extra options embrace chapter help, bookmarks, a sleep timer, shuffle and playlist choices, and a video participant.
Better of all, Podcast Addict is free, supported by a small advert banner on the backside of the display screen!
Select correctly (however do give it a strive)
However subsequent time you are commuting, otherwise you’re on a sunny stroll within the park, do give it a strive. I do know, I do know, meaning you will not be listening to the identical twelve songs you are listening to each single day whereas partaking within the aforementioned actions, however hey – you possibly can’t make an omelette with out breaking eggs.
The podcast omelette is enjoyable, nutritious and… addictive.
The place to get the right podcast app?
That is straightforward! Simply browse your app retailer of alternative and discover what fits you greatest.
If you have already got a favourite from the record above, hearth at will:
